Town News Briefing

Staging for the parade takes place at Bushnell Park and Jewell Street at 8 a.m. Jewell, Trinity, Ann and Ford streets (between Pearl and Jewell streets) will be closed to through traffic.

The parade, to begin at 10 a.m., will proceed north from Bushnell Park to Trumbull and Main streets, Albany Avenue, Woodland Street and Keney Park. A family festival will be held in the park around 2 p.m., after the parade.

Motorists in the downtown area should expect delays beginning with the staging at 8 a.m., and as the parade proceeds through the city from Bushnell Park to Keney Park.

HARTFORD

Healthy Community

Initiative Gets Grant

Hartford has won a $980,000 federal grant to help cover the cost of Mayor Eddie A. Perez's Healthy Community Initiative.

The grant is from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The mayor's program seeks to coordinate the existing medical resources in the city to ensure that the city's 27,000 uninsured or underinsured residents have access to a primary care provider. Creating that access would include hiring bilingual medical translators to work at all places where primary health care is provided.

The funding will help cover the creation of a ``single medical information system'' -- a system that identifies and keeps track of all patients seeking care.

HARTFORD

Man Accused Of

Vandalizing Cars

A city man who complained to police that his marijuana money had been stolen was arrested early Friday, accused of vandalizing several cars, police said.

Officers were called to the 600 block of Park Street around 1:50 a.m. Friday on a report of an assault when they found Mohammed Ghoiam, 24, of Sumner Street, with bruises on the left side of his face, police said.

He told the officers that five men had assaulted him and stolen $500 in cash, and that he ``was upset about the fact that he was now unable to buy weed,'' police spokeswoman Nancy Mulroy said.

He could not identify his attackers and would not cooperate with the detectives, answering many of their questions with profanities, she said.

Ghoiam declined medical treatment and left the scene, but police saw him about 15 minutes later on a nearby street, damaging side-view mirrors on three parked cars, Mulroy said. Although a motive was not given, officers at the scene noted that he was extremely ``emotional'' and upset about the loss of his money, she said.

He was charged with third-degree criminal mischief.

HARTFORD

Police Trying To Find

Victims Of Robberies

Police said they have a man in custody who has confessed to several robberies, but they have little information about the victims.

The owner of Tinker's Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market, 2074 Park St., called police Thursday to report that a man had robbed two women at knifepoint in the parking lot one night earlier, and that he recognized the man as someone who frequently loiters nearby, police said.

However, police had not received any reports of robberies in that area.

About 90 minutes after he called police, the store owner noticed the suspect and called police again, then chased the suspect until he ran inside an apartment building at 33 Dorothy Ave., police said.

Officers searched the building and found the suspect -- identified as Manuel Santiago, 35, of that address -- hiding in the closet of a neighboring apartment, and charged him with third-degree criminal trespass and criminal mischief, police said.

Santiago admitted to police that he had robbed several people, police said, but detectives have little information about the victims and are asking for the public's help to locate them.

Anyone who witnessed two women being robbed at knifepoint Wednesday night in the 2000 block of Park Street, or who was a victim of such a robbery, is asked to call the police department's major crimes division at 860-527-7300.

Santiago has an extensive criminal history involving robberies, and served eight years in prison in the 1990s after being convicted on robbery charges, police said.

HARTFORD

Local Man Sentenced

In Drug Case

A city man was sentenced Friday to almost six years in federal prison for participating in a major drug-sales ring.

Jayquan Faniel, 21, also known as ``Quan'' or ``Q,'' was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in New Haven to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiring to possess 5 grams or more of crack cocaine with intent to sell it, officials said.

His conviction stems from a 10-month investigation, ``Operation Big Boy,'' in which 52 suppliers, dealers and users were rounded up following months of surveillance, wiretaps and undercover drug purchases.

NEWINGTON

Pet Adoptions Offered

At Event Today

NEWINGTON -- A Connecticut Save A Pup Dog Day will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at 239 Maple Hill Ave.